[nagdu] snow was Shoppers with guide dogs beingdeniedaccessatgoodwill industries

[Julie J.]

Talking about snow in July when it's over 100 degrees out is refreshing.

Okay canes and snow...I live in Nebraska, we get some serious snow 
here.  I much prefer a guide dog to navigate snow, but I've done it with 
a cane.  It's doable.  The main thing is to really pay attention to the 
sound information you are getting, use that to keep oriented.  If the 
snow is deep stabbing your cane down through the snow to the pavement 
underneath every couple of steps helps to make sure you are still on the 
sidewalk.  If it's possible to wait until people have scooped or run 
their snow blowers that helps.  Following where other people have walked 
through deep snow is also helpful for keeping a straight line as long as 
the previous walkers actually followed the sidewalk.

After the snowplows have gone over the streets you will often have a 
hill of snow right where the sidewalk meets the street.  It's 
inconvenient to have to climb over this snow, but it does help to know 
that the street is coming up.

Skip all those folding and telescopic canes.  You need something sturdy 
for snow travel.  I like hollow fiberglass straight cane.  I've used a 
telescopic cane in the snow and it didn't work well.  The cold and added 
downward pressure to stab through the snow will make it collapse.

I don't have a GPS unit, but that might also be a very helpful tool.

Of course paratransit or cabs are options, but you have to do what you 
have to do with what resources you have available.  Paratransit or a 
ride isn't always a choice.

HTH
Julie